Wednesday, December 16, 2020

MASSACHUSETTS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS STATEMENT #2

SUBJECT: Winter Storm Wednesday Night through Thursday (December 16-17, 2020) 

Situation A winter storm will bring heavy snow, strong winds, coastal flooding, and hazardous marine conditions beginning between 7pm to 10pm tonight into Thursday. 

Expected snow fall totals projected are 8-12 inches in Southeast Massachusetts along/south of Mass Pike. Expected snow fall totals across interior Massachusetts have increased to 12-18 inches. Peak snowfall rates of 1- 2” are expected to occur in the overnight hours. Snowfall will taper off from west to east starting Thursday morning and ending statewide by early to mid-afternoon. Dry weather paired with colder temperatures and wind chill are anticipated on Thursday and Friday following the storm. 

Impacts 

• Significant snow accumulation is anticipated in southeastern Massachusetts creating issues with travel and commuting on Thursday morning. 

• Strong wind gusts 

  • Blowing/drifting snow 
  • Isolated/scattered power outages
  • Wind gusts between 45 – 55MPH along the coast and over Cape Cod and the Islands.
  • Winds will increase around midnight with the strongest wind gusts occurring between 7am and 1pm Thursday. 

• The Massachusetts coast including Cape Cod and the Islands could see minor to low- end moderate coastal flooding (1-2 feet of inundation) during high tide on early Thursday afternoon. 

• Flash freezing causing slick roads due to rapidly freezing temperatures may occur mid to late Thursday morning in in southeastern MA.